On His Knees: Archbishop Receives Absolution from French Interior Minister
The seal of confession is “stronger than the laws of the Republic,” Paris Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort replied to a claim of the French Government that this seal “must” be violated when a priest …More
The seal of confession is “stronger than the laws of the Republic,” Paris Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort replied to a claim of the French Government that this seal “must” be violated when a priest hears during confession about a sexual abuse (FranceInfo, October 6).
Consequently, Moulins-Beaufort was summoned by French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, an adultery Catholic, at the express request of French President Macron.
As could be expected for a Catholic bishop, Moulins-Beaufort denied, throwing himself on his knees in front of Darmanin and calling his earlier statement “clumsy.” Then, he performed some submission rituals towards the “victims.” The minister was happy.
Phil Lawler wonders how French priests will defend the confessional seal, when their bishops are not ready to uphold it.
At least, the French bishops spokeswoman Karine Dalle finally stated (October 13) that the confessional seal is sacrosanct, “One cannot change the canon law for France as it is international.…More
Consequently, Moulins-Beaufort was summoned by French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, an adultery Catholic, at the express request of French President Macron.
As could be expected for a Catholic bishop, Moulins-Beaufort denied, throwing himself on his knees in front of Darmanin and calling his earlier statement “clumsy.” Then, he performed some submission rituals towards the “victims.” The minister was happy.
Phil Lawler wonders how French priests will defend the confessional seal, when their bishops are not ready to uphold it.
At least, the French bishops spokeswoman Karine Dalle finally stated (October 13) that the confessional seal is sacrosanct, “One cannot change the canon law for France as it is international.…More
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Ultraviolet
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"One cannot change the canon law for France as it is international." Word up! "at the express request of French President Macron." a request the Archbishop should have haughtily refused simply to show The Church is not subordinate to secular leaders.
mccallansteve
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He's a coward. No wonder he is a bishop
John A Cassani
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It would be hard for me to see how a bishop’s failure to uphold the seal would not constitute schism. It approaches apostasy, in fact.
De Profundis
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What harm would have been done if the French archbishop had simply reaffirmed his original statement that the authority of the confessional seal “is stronger than the laws of the Republic”? That statement was accurate. It is what the Church has always believed and taught. It is what the French bishops’ conference spokeswoman would later confirm—albeit somewhat haltingly, almost apologetically, …More
What harm would have been done if the French archbishop had simply reaffirmed his original statement that the authority of the confessional seal “is stronger than the laws of the Republic”? That statement was accurate. It is what the Church has always believed and taught. It is what the French bishops’ conference spokeswoman would later confirm—albeit somewhat haltingly, almost apologetically, with a nod to the possibility that something could be changed.